2026 CMS Mailing Updates for ANOC, EOC, and LIS Rider — and How to Adapt

6/24/2025 Cindy Thomas

The CMS Contract Year 2026 Standardized Materials have now been released, and they bring pivotal updates to several key areas, including: Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), Evidence of Coverage (EOC), and Low Income Subsidy (LIS) Rider mailings. For marketing operations leaders in the payer space, these changes require swift adjustments to ensure compliance, optimize costs, and enhance member experience. 

Here, I’ll examine the mailing updates for each area and provide you with actionable steps to enable your operations to get ahead of the curve.

Key mailing updates and operational adjustments

The recent CMS updates emphasize clarity, digital accessibility, and reduced administrative burden, aligning with price transparency goals. The ANOC, EOC, and LIS rider are critical member touchpoints, and if you mismanage these mailings, you risk not only member dissatisfaction but also compliance penalties. 

Here are four specific changes that will impact your marketing operations as a result of the updates — and suggested adjustments you can make to quickly adapt:

1. ANOC: Digital links and simplified content — The streamlined ANOC includes direct URL links to pharmacy/provider directories and plan websites (sections 1.6 and 3), reducing the printed content. Plain language and simplified charts make it more member-friendly. Marketing ops adjustment: Update your mailing templates to embed functional URLs, being sure to test link accuracy. To cut postage costs, shift to a hybrid print-digital delivery, which will allow you to track engagement via click-through rates.
2. EOC: Cost tables and clarity — The EOC now features a monthly cost summary table (chapter 1, section 4) and directory links with reduced redundancy and clearer prior-authorization language (chapter 5, section 4.2). Marketing ops adjustment: Revise your EOC mailings to highlight the cost table, and ensure that links work seamlessly. To tailor content and help reduce call-center inquiries, segment mailings by plan type (e.g., D-SNP, Part D).
3. LIS rider: Updated terminology — The LIS rider standardizes “Extra Help” capitalization and also removes VBID cost-sharing references, reflecting CY 2025 IRA deductible eliminations for LIS members. Marketing ops adjustment: Audit LIS mailing lists for accuracy and update scripts to reflect the new terminology. Automate retroactive eligibility notices in order to ensure timely delivery to members.
4. Embedded regulatory guidance — Mailing requirements (42 C.F.R. §§ 422.2267(e)(3), 423.2267(e)(3), 423.2267(e)(11)) are now integrated into the models or Appendix A, eliminating separate instruction documents. Marketing ops adjustment: Train your teams on embedded instructions and leverage automation to flag any compliance gaps in mailing workflows.

Strategic takeaways for marketing ops

By adopting digital links and hybrid delivery now, you can reduce your mailing costs while boosting your member engagement. Automation tools can streamline compliance checks and personalize content, especially for D-SNP members with new Medicaid resource instructions (ANOC section 5).

Here are three quick steps you can take to generate early wins for your operation:

• Automate URL integration: Use tech to embed and validate links in your mailings
• Track digital engagement: Monitor URL clicks to refine your future campaigns
• Partner for compliance: Collaborate with a vendor experienced in creating these documents and one that can integrate automation throughout the process

Valuable resources from CMS

For additional CMS Contract Year 2026 Standardized Materials and other valuable CMS information, visit:

• The CMS Marketing Models, Standard Documents, and Educational Material page, which provides information and downloads for standardized outreach and educational material for Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans, Prescription Drug Plans, and 1876 Cost Plans. Model materials include the standardized ANOC and EOC templates and instructions, ANOC/EOC Errata, and Provider Directory.
• The CMS Part D Model Materials page, which provides downloadable model Part D documents for use by Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) Sponsors and Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MAPDs).

Cindy Thomas is a Health Plan Communications Expert with RRD. RRD can help you engage and build loyalty by strategizing, planning, and executing data-driven multichannel member communication solutions.

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